Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• the Bill of Portland 1649 WeyM 1811 OS

• The Beell 1710 Map

• Portland Bill 1773 Bayly

• Beale Point (vulgarly called the Bill) 1774 Hutch1

Etymology

, the Bill of Portland 1649 WeyM, 1811 OS, The Beell 1710 Map, Portland Bill 1773 Bayly, Beale Point (vulgarly called the Bill )1774 Hutch1 , cf. Beale Rock 1892 Map , v. bile ' bill, beak ' , used here of the tapering southern promontory of the island , cf. Selsey Bill Sx 84 , with point ; the same feature is called The point of the race in 1575 Saxton , cf . The Rasce of Portland , wyche ys in lengythe v mylles 1539 LP , a very perilous surf , generally known by the name of the Race of Portland 1861 Hutch3 , v. race ' a rush of water ' ; for the various lighthouses on the Bill , v. Hutch1 1586, Hutch3 2823, RCHM 2253 , and cf. Hr Light Ho , Lr Light Ho 1839TA .